chapter 169 part 1
**Chapter 168: Chaos**
**2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou**
Boom—
"What happened?"
"OMG, an explosion, it's an explosion!"
"Run, it's dangerous..."
"Why is there an explosion at Hydra? Is it a terrorist attack?"
"Thunderbolts, where are the Thunderbolts?"
The sudden explosion plunged the entire Hydra Tower into massive chaos.
"Damn it, the laboratory!"
In the chaos, Banner suddenly remembered the situation in the laboratory.
For some time now, he had been studying Steve Rogers.
Captain America was the first Super-Soldier Serum test subject, and one of the few successful test subjects.
Under the effect of the Serum, Captain America's physical functions all reached peak human levels, which was almost unimaginable during World War II.
It was precisely because of this that the birth of Captain America led The Military at the time to believe they would win the war.
In fact, that was indeed the case initially.
The Invaders Squad, led by Captain America, did play a certain role in the early stages of the war, even turning the tide in some deteriorating battle situations. At that time, in the United States, promotional posters featuring Captain America were widespread, and major newspapers were envisioning victory in the war, with America becoming the world's hegemon.
Until the squad fell and Captain America himself sacrificed.
The entire war situation immediately took a sharp turn for the worse, and America, as a defeated nation in World War II, signed the surrender document.
If it weren't for the fierce internal conflicts within the Axis Powers in the later stages of the war, where Japan betrayed Germany, leading to the subsequent outbreak of internal war among the Axis powers, and in retaliation for Japan's betrayal, the then-head of state signed an order to drop the world's first Atomic Bomb, 'Truth,' on Japan's former capital, Tokyo.
And America, as a participant in that internal war among the Axis powers, leveraged this to persuade Germany and secure some military discretionary power.
Otherwise, its situation as a defeated nation might have been even worse than it is now.
"America is a cripple with its legs cut off. While painful, it can at least still hobble."
This was President Truman's most famous quote, accurately describing America's fate after its defeat.
Among the chaotic crowd, Banner's slender figure constantly weaved through the fleeing people, rushing towards the laboratory.
Inside the laboratory, his latest research results on the Serum were recorded.
Through the study of Captain America's blood, he had reverse-engineered part of the Super-Soldier Serum formula and had begun the first round of animal experiments, with encouraging results.
The lab mice injected with the Serum showed significant increases in both super strength and brainwave activity compared to their counterparts in the control group.
Upon learning of these experimental results, Helmut had once suggested to Banner to conduct human trials to obtain more complete experimental data, but Banner had firmly refused. He believed that merely having partially deciphered the Super-Soldier Serum, without ensuring it wouldn't cause unknown side effects in humans, meant it was too early to begin human trials.
"Huff, huff..."
After pushing through the crowd, Banner gasped for breath, straightened his disheveled clothes, and adjusted his glasses.
Thinking about the sudden explosion at the Hydra Tower, he didn't dare waste any more time and quickly pressed the elevator button to the basement where the experiments were located.
Perhaps due to the explosion, the entire basement was in chaos.
"What is this?"
Passing by a laboratory, Banner's face showed surprise as he stopped.
Although he had been researching at Hydra for some time, his main energy was focused on the Super-Soldier Serum reverse engineering experiment, and his daily life was mostly confined to the laboratory.
Therefore, he wasn't very aware of the research being conducted in other laboratories besides his own.
Of course, this might also be related to the strict security within Hydra; normally, these laboratories were kept closed and not known to outsiders.
If it weren't for the sudden explosion, Banner might not have known their experimental content for a long time to come.
Worried about the situation in his own laboratory, Banner did not linger in front of these laboratories. He suppressed his inner curiosity and returned to his Serum research laboratory.
Fortunately, the explosion had little impact on the laboratory.
After processing the data inside the laboratory, Banner approached the lab mice that had undergone the Serum experiment.
Inside the laboratory cage, the lab mice's vital signs were all normal, seemingly having fully adapted to the Serum's modifications to their bodies.
"Perhaps, it's time to start the second round of animal experiments."
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Banner's slender face, and his mind subconsciously began to ponder the next steps of the experiment.
Boom—
However, just as he was lost in thought, another explosion echoed through the Hydra Tower, pulling Banner's thoughts back to the present situation.
Now was not the time to think about experiments.
Considering the chaotic situation at Hydra, Banner took a deep breath, reining in the experimental inspirations that had popped into his mind.
"Ah."
He quickly reached out to pick up the cage containing the experimental mice.
However, the moment his hand touched the cage, the mouse, which had been quietly still inside, suddenly bit Banner's finger.
Having undergone the Serum experiment, the lab mouse's super strength already exceeded that of ordinary mice.
Caught off guard, he cried out in pain and quickly withdrew his finger, looking at the clear tooth marks and bloodstains on it. He casually grabbed a roll of bandage from a laboratory drawer and wrapped the wound, but his expression unconsciously fell into deep thought.
Theoretically, lab mice chosen for experiments are usually very docile, and under normal circumstances, such an attack on researchers should be impossible.
Unless something stimulated the mouse, or...
Thinking this, Banner clutched his throbbing finger and carefully observed the mouse in the experimental cage.
From its appearance, the mouse seemed normal, but if one looked closely at its eyes, they appeared a bit redder than those of a normal mouse.
This was a condition that had not appeared in previous experiments.
"So, the Serum experiment has flaws. While I've collected data as detailed as possible, I've overlooked the Serum's effect on a creature's temperament."
This was the drawback of animal experiments. Because animals are chosen as experimental subjects rather than subjects capable of communication, it's difficult to collect complete data, especially for emotional data. Lab mice can't tell you how they feel.
"Fortunately, this is only the initial animal experiment stage."
Banner thought with relief that he had discovered this situation early in the Serum experiment.
Precisely because it was still in the animal experiment stage, there was still an opportunity for improvement. If such a problem occurred during later human trials, it would be a serious medical accident.
With the previous biting experience, Banner was now more careful when moving the experimental cage.
Squeak—
Watching the mouse in the cage constantly squeaking and acting unusually agitated, he became even more convinced of his earlier judgment.